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Wacky Packages have been around for more than 40 years now (the '73 reissue of the first series got me hooked as a first-grader), and plenty of the stickers were gearhead-centric. Now you can get 'em seven feet tall! More »
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I keep meaning to review a couple of books that every car freak should read (Nader's Unsafe At Any Speed and DeLorean's On A Clear Day You Can See General Motors, but this book has shoved them aside for now. More »
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Many, many readers were all in a tizzy after they saw the LeMons Team Shirt-stravaganza last weekend, because they needed to obtain a Team JDL BMW team T-shirt. Well, now you can- just in time for Hanukkah shopping! More »
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Barely know anything about your father/husband/brother except that they drive a BMW with fruity stripes on the back? Then this tie could be the perfect Christmas present. More »
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The mating call of the TVR owner? "I'd love to, but let's use your car." 24 Hours Of Lemons Chief Perpetrator has teamed up with racing artist Hector Cademartori to psychoanalyze… well, us. More »
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Remember the crazy 1440-RPM V8 engine built from Lego Mindstorms parts we showed you back in May? Now you can buy your own from LPE Power's recently opened online store. More »
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They don't call it the 24 Hours Of LeMons Arse-Freeze-A-Palooza for nothing; weather conditions at Thunderhill in late December usually oscillate between "horizontal stinging sleet" and "bad day even by Ivan Denisovich standards." The folks at the Busted Knuckle Garage, realizing this, sent me one of their trapper hats, which I had the opportunity to test out in the 37-degree morning weather at the 25 Hours Of Thunderhill last weekend. More »
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We'll be taking a quick break from the rigors of posting automotive goodness this week, taking a half-day here at Jalopnik today and tomorrow. But if you're still in the mood for what we've been wanting all year, check out our Holiday Gift Guide to see what we're hoping Santa (or Chanukah Harry) leaves under the tree (or bush) tonight. Of course Santa (or Harry) may pull something for us out of his Ho-Ho-Hummer from our Jalopnik Holiday Re-Gift Guide, which probably means we were naughty (or a schmendrick) this past year. But regardless of which list we end up on, we're hoping you're all on the good list this year and whatever holiday you celebrate (if any) is a happy one. More »
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Though it doesn't quite have the realism or history of Gran Turismo 4, we've been addicted to the Mario Kart series for as long as we could chuck a red homing shell. We've spent countless hours unlocking tracks and cars on the digital version, which often leads to sore eyes. But what to do when you're taking a break? Why not play a slot car version of the same game? Wario v. Mario. It's a good way to keep your intricately detailed Le Mans replica track away from the kids. Chomp Chomps not included. More »
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That egg timer you got from Target may look sweet on the dash of your old Datsun 510 when you go solo-crossing with your buddies, but it's probably not the best way to measure your lap times and the lap times of your buddies. That's where a good stopwatch comes in handy. On the low-end, most stop watches will let you keep track of multiple lap times across a single or double display. On the high end is the MultiChron, which allows you to record up to 99 laps for four different racers. It's rugged, good looking and at $145 is more than a stocking stuffer. Product details below: More »
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While you probably wouldn't want in your new Bentley, nothing classes up an old rig for a long road trip more than a CB Radio. You can relive your Smokey & The Bandit fantasies by calling out a 'Bear in the Air' just outside Bull City, or letting others know that there's an Evil Kenevil 'shooting you in the back' along the expressway. So if that car fan in your life is driving a 70's era vintage wagon or a Subaru Brat, a CB Radio might be a nice edition. We recommend the Cobra 19 DX IV for first timers, as it comes with all the equipment you need for under $70.00. Product details below the jump. More »
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This one's for the kids, though we'd imagine Santa might have a hard time carrying this one down the chimney. If you're greatest aspiration is to turn your son/daughter/neice/nephew into an anglo-autophile, a good first step might be to buy them this battery-powered Mini Cooper Convertible. For Just $350 you can have your little one outpacing and outclassing the neighbors and their boring F-150 Powerwheels. Throw in some leather gloves and an open-faced Helmut helmet and you'll have a little Paddy Hopkirk. Product details below: More »
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We're not suggesting that folks playing a few spirited rounds of Radio Controlled Highball Navigation are necessarily going to feel inspired to hop in a real car and cause a gory 25-car pileup, but there's something a bit, you know, unsettling about the Booze Cruise Radio Controlled Car. It looks as if you set your drink in the roof-mounted cup holder and then attempt to drive it through an obstacle course straight to your powerful thirst. [Car Crazy Gifts] More »
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We're getting closer to Christmas Day, so it's probably time to start considering gifts that don't require that much shipping. What if you could get your significant other an Aston Martin Vanquish, Murcielago Spider, Ferrari F430 or a Benz SL65 AMG without having to get a 400 month lease? If your pockets are slightly swollen, may we recommend an exotic car rental certificate? More »
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No one likes to be troubled with getting a beer from inside whilst in the middle of serious repairs, but there's something about a yellowing Frigidaire that sort of ruins the feng shui of most garages. That's where the Microfridge Garage Refrigerator enters the picture. This 53 cu-in fridge mimics the black and red exterior of typical garage storage yet holds a world of gastronomical delights within. At just $299.00 (plus $65.00 s/h) it's a steal! Product details below: More »
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We're sort of being coy when we suggest a "big red bow" for a gift, as we really think a vehicle of the automotive kind is probably the best gift you can get an automotive enthusiast. That being said, we'd spawn all kind of trouble if we suggested what car to get for that special someone in your life. We'd hate for a MOPAR fan to get a Z06 when they really wanted a Charger (though, who would turn down a Vette?). With that said, here's some information on getting those large bows they use in Lexus commercials. More »
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As far as we can tell, the cheapest way to get into "Generation One" Transformers, a.k.a. the original Transformers series, is this Complete DVD Box Set with all 98 episodes plus the movie. That's Optimus Prime on 15 discs in an attractive tin case. Just a slight heads up, the discs are imported from China and therefore are primarily in Chinese. They do have an English audio track and we can easily vouch for it working. More »
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Better than a faux-Ferrari polo made of a cheap polyester, the real grease monkey in your life could get a lot of miles out of a pair of good coveralls. We can definitely recommend any of the Dickies line of coveralls, as they offer comfort, durability and value. Murilee manages to burn through a pair of these every couple of months. It's the best way to protect your nuts and bolts during repairs. More »
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Known as Mach Go Go Go in Japan, Speed Racer holds a special place in our hearts from when they replayed the show on MTV (we'll see about the Speed Racer) film. It was a great introduction to the world of auto racing (though, it sort of skewed our view of it for a time). Some may think the show cheesy, but the show was our Le Mans until we saw that film many years later. At under $10.00, this makes a great stocking stuffer. More »
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If you drive older cars you're going to find yourself in a situation where you are nowhere near home and a check engine light suddenly appears. What does it mean? Is it just a bad spark plug? Is your engine going to explode? That's where the Pocketscan OBD II Pocket Scan Code Reader comes in handy. For around $90.00, you can carry the power of being able to securely diagnose your ride before an out-of-town mechanic tells you that you need a whole new transmission. Of course, you're going to need an OBD-II compatible car, so your Datsun 510 wagon may not work. Product details below the jump. More »
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If you're disgustingly wealthy, a Lego version of a Ferrari F1 Car may not leave the same impression on you that it would on the average car nut. For that reason we recommend a luxury condo at the Autobahn Country Club Joliet in lovely Joliet, Illinois. For just $300,000 you can own a condo with storage for your vintage race car and enjoy racetrack privileges. Of course, then you have to go to Joliet, Illinois. Product info below: More »
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If there's someone in your life that has a show car, or even just treats their 2001 Focus ZX3 like it's a show car, you might try getting them them the "Ultimate Car Care Kit" from Meguiar's. When it comes to car prep products, Meguiar's is no joke and for about $40.00 you get a nice mix of waxes, tire gels, scratch removers, a cleaning cloth and a carrying case. It's not the most original gift, but it beats the hell out of using an old wadded up t-shirt. Product info below the jump: More »
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Because we can show love to the Xbox fanboys out there, our gift list also includes this mighty fine peripheral, a must have for any serious Project Gotham or NFS racer. In their review last year, Gizomdo called the Xbox 360 Wireless Wheel "the best racing experience we've ever had." And good news, you can get it for just $129.99 online. More »
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If you're in the market for a small R/C car for you or someone you love, but you're not really willing to make the $200 investment in one of the larger gas-powered setups, we can easily recommend the XMODS R/C series from RadioShack. Powered by small electric motors, these kits come in under $30.00 and are exceptionally customizable. More »
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We were shocked, absolutely shocked the fake sunroof lost out to both Fast & The Furious-merch and the Fake Spinners, the eventual winner with 28.1% of the vote at 287 votes out of more than 1,000 votes. There were also a few of you that shared our disdain for Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, though people generally could stand the car seats. More »
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Until someone at Bentley goes crazy, Gran Turismo is the only way we're going to get to flog a Speed 8 around some of the world's best race tracks. We could go on and on about the improved engine, the increased dynamics, the sharper graphics and better sounds &mdash but we'd rather talk about the cars. For GT4 there's 720 of them, ranging from the small and odd like the Autobianchi A112 to the ferocious and rare like the CLK GTR. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=326195&view=rss&microfeed=true Today is "Cyber Monday" — the internet's "Black Friday." So, if you're looking for what to buy your auto-obsessed love one, may we suggest our very own Jalopnik Holiday Gift Guide? Or, if you're looking for what not to buy said auto-obsessive, may we also suggest our very own Jalopnik Holiday Re-Gift Guide? More »
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If you're not sure what the ideal gift would be for the gear head in your life, a gift card is always a good way to go. But how to know if it's the right gift? If someone in your life goes to the auto parts store more than they go to the Safeway, they might like an O'Reilly Gift Card. If they wear a jumpsuit more than any other type of clothing... well you see where we're going with this. It's also scalable to however much you want to pay/how much you like the person. More »
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Whether you're merely a novice Matchbox collector with a Rubbermaid container full of well-worn cars, or you're a pro carefully dusting your mint condition 1966 Open Diplomat, we think you'll enjoy this tome dedicated to the die-cast toys that filled our dreams. Filled with more pictures than details, the Matchbox 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition Book will take you back to a time when your garage included a Porsche 914 and could fit under your bed. Product details below. More »
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There are just some gifts that are so bad you have to take them back the day after Christmas. And when you're a car nut, you could be the victim of a lot of crap that exists in the universe of automotive-related gifts. Since we've shown the world what you might want with our Holiday Gift Guide, we're going to mix things up on Black Friday by broadcasting to the well-meaning but ill-informed the gifts we absolutely do not want and we need your help. What are the worst car enthusiast gifts you've seen, received or given? What's the most awful crap that has been gifted in the name of automobilia? We'll be picking the best/worst you all come up with and counting them down this Friday. Click below the link to see what we've recommended already: More »
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Le Mans is the racing movie of choice according to you, so it is more than appropriate to suggest the film as a stocking stuffer for the racing fan. Sure, there's no dialogue for the first 38 minutes. But wouldn't dialogue just interfere with glorious sounds coming out of the Porches and Ferraris? More »
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Whether of divine creation or just miraculous happenstance, no gift could be more appropriate for the hoon in your life than this novelty "Hoon Dr." garage street sign. On sale at the low-low Amazon price of $12.95, you're saving $7.00 off the list price (no, we're not taking kickbacks from Amazon). No reviews on the product yet, so we can't vouch for quality of product though we can glowingly recommend it on quality of idea. Full product details below. More »
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While our version of a racing shoes is a pair of chucks with extremely worn soles, the real racers out there need a bit more support. A good pair of racing shoes not only protects the foot from injury and soreness, it may also reduce your lap times by helping provide a better feel when it's time to put foot to clutch. We're partial to the Fusion by Simpson, which has an attractive mid-top design that would make it a capable off-the-track shoe. More »
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Though slightly more expensive than most of the gifts making our annual "Holiday Gift Guide," a trip to the Skip Barber Racing School is kind of a dream gift. Whether it's just one day of hoonage in a formula 2.0 or a full three days of whipping an MX-5 around Road America, you'll make your significant other forget that time you let their pet rabbit Mr. Pilkington get away. More »
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Though you don't quite get the low wind resistance of the real thing, this gorgeous 1:8 scale Ferrari F1 model from LEGO is a lot more than just a toy. Or maybe it's just a toy, but it's a fantastic one. Over two feet in length, this great clone features a working steering wheel, suspension and moving pistons. Having toyed around with one of these, I can tell you that you'll have as much fun putting it together as you will showing it off to friends. Product details below: More »
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Though the Internet has mostly limited the need for printed materials, there's just something appealing about five pounds of inky paper dedicated to the American automotive experiment (j/k, keep reading blogs). There are many great resources out there for the car fan, but the "Encyclopedia of America Cars" is one of our favorites. Compiled by the auto editors of Consumer Guide, this beauty weighs in at nearly 900 pages and includes detailed descriptions of every car by every major American brand for the last 70 years. More »
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If you love Rock'em Sock'em Robots and R/C cars, we've got the product for you: Stock Cars. It may be a boring and non-descriptive name, but these awesome little remote-controlled cars come complete with four passengers connected to ejection buttons within the doors. The first person to eject all of their opponents passengers wins! It's like real stock car racing, except the passengers can't throw their helmets at you after ejection. Details below the jump: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=321602&view=rss&microfeed=true We were lucky enough to receive an awesome gift last night, the seventh of the crazy eight-day candle-gasm (yes, we just used a Jewish holiday and one of the blogging no-no's — so sue us, we're busy being overjoyed) that is Hanukkah. Apparently the new Jeremy Clarkson DVD, The Good The Bad The Ugly, is only available in the UK (don't know that for a fact — it's merely what we've heard). But whatever the availability state-side, it matters not because we got it. Eighty minutes of Clarkson ripping through cars like the Corvette Z06, the Chrysler 300C SRT8, the Jaguar XK — and ripping up cars like the Toyota Prius with high-caliber ammo. But one of the segments features the drop-topped "concept" of the Ford GT, the GTX1. We've had the opportunity to see in person twice — once at the Woodward Dream Cruise, and once at SEMA this year — but we've never seen it in the hands of someone like Jeremy. Enjoy my pseudo re-gifting above. – Ray Wert More »
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Hot rods and customs were not always as awful as the worst of them are today. If the latest from the hot rodding or custom car world leaves a sickly paint-by-numbers feeling in your gut then this book is for you. Gearhead Magazine Publisher Mike LaVella, Motorbooks, and Robt. Williams himself have teamed up to create the first book to examine not just the art of Robt. Williams, but also the events and people such as Von Dutch and Ed Roth that helped forge William's tenured position of artist and hot rodder. The book is chock full of color illustrations of Robt. Williams artwork and his hot rods, along with never before published photos from a period in American history that well deserves a chronicle. A steal from 27 to 40 bucks. More »
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